MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny softball team picked up a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader sweep against Westminster in clutch fashion Thursday (April 17).
Olivia Devries (Kent, Ohio/Field) hit a two-run walkoff home run in game one to give the Gators a 5-4 win and held off the Titans in game two for a 3-2 win.
Game One - Allegheny 5, Westminster 4
After a scoreless first inning, the Titans struck first in the second, scoring a run off two hits in the frame.
Cameron Long (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) doubled to the centerfield fence in the bottom of the second, and moved to third on a wild pitch. However, the Titans got out of the inning with her stranded on base.
The Titans added to their lead in the third, scoring three times off two hits, extending their lead to 4-0.
The Gators made up some runs in the bottom of the third.
Samantha Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) and
Aleya Belardinelli (Melbourne, Fla./West Shore) started the inning off with back-to-back singles. Devries hit a double to the right center fence, clearing the bases for the first two runs.
Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) followed up with the Gator's second straight double, trading places with Devries to cut the lead to 4-3.
In the sixth, Long singled and moved to second on an error, and third on a wild pitch with two outs, but once again, she was left on base.
After holding the Titans off in the top of the seventh, the Gators had one more chance in the bottom of the inning. Belardinelli was on base with two outs after a fielder's choice, putting Devries at the plate. Devries came through in the clutch, delivering a walkoff home run over the center field fence as the Gators completed the comeback for a 5-4 win.
Inside the Box
- Devries had three hits in the game including the two run walkoff home run and a two RBI double.
- Belardinelli struck out eight batters while allowing three runs. She also had a pair of hits, including a double.
- Phillips and Long each had a pair of hits with Long doubling.
- Genareo had a RBI double.
Game Two - Allegheny 3, Westminster 2
The pitcher's duel remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. After Belardinelli singled earlier in the frame, Genareo hit a two-run home run over the center field fence to score the game's first runs. The home run was her second of the year.
Audrey Blarr (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) followed up with a single before a RBI double by
Alaina Sharp (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) made it 3-0.
The Titans made up a run in the fifth, scoring one run off of two hits to cut the lead to 3-1. They threatened again in the sixth, but
Samantha Dzierba (Colden, N.Y./Orchard Park) guided the Gators out of the situation unscathed.
Westminster pushed one run across in the top of the seventh and had a runner on third with two outs, but the game ended on a groundout as the Gators completed the sweep.
Inside the Box
- Dzierba picked up the win, allowing one earned run while striking out two.
- Genareo hit a two-run home run.
- Belardinelli had another pair of hits in the game.
- Sharp had a RBI double.
- Phillips, Devries and Blarr also had hits.
News and Notes
- Allegheny is now 26-20 all-time against Westminster.
- Devries hit her seventh home run of the season and 20th of her career. She is now tied with Stephanie Fort for the fourth most in program history.
- Genareo hit her 12th career home run.
Up Next
The Gators travel to Washington and Jefferson Wednesday (April 23) for the final PAC doubleheader of the season.
